PROTEST WITH A DIFFERENCE: A tribal with dappu leads a protest rally undertaken by CPI(M) leader B.V. Raghavulu at Kunavaram in Khammam district. - PHOTO: K. RAMESH BABU

ARAKUR (Khammam dt.): The CPI(M) has decided to intensify its anti-Polavaram project struggle significantly taking support of all political parties, including the Telugu Desam and the TRS, beginning with a huge rally at the dam site.

In a major effort to galvanise tribals and others' opinion against the project, B.V. Raghavulu, party State secretary, and other leaders undertook a two-day whirlwind rail-road-river journey of Arakur and other villages likely to be submerged on either side of the Godavari.

"Be prepared for a do-or-die battle. Our goal is to make the Government stop all works relating to the project. There is no compromise on that count," he declared while addressing people.

`Threats will not work'

From Reddypalem to Ippuru in Khammam district and Vadapalli to Chegondapalli in West Godavari, Mr. Raghavulu was able to whip up strong sentiments against the project. Wherever he stopped for a road-side meeting, tribals gave him a warm reception, narrated their woes, pledged support and made it clear that there was no question of moving out.

"Do not get cowed down by the threats held out by the Government and the police. If you put up a united struggle, far from getting drowned, you can sink this Government," he told them. Sharpening his attack on the Government for going ahead with the project, he said: "Both Chief Minister and Irrigation Minister are uttering lies. There is no proper permission given to the project."

`Officials playing truant'

He said the Chattisgarh Government was kept in dark. Responding to a case in High Court, the Central Water Commission itself made it clear that it was holding up the clearance till inter-State issues were resolved.

The Government was saying something in the rehabilitation and resettlement policy and the official order while doing quite another. "Officials are claiming it to be the best rehabilitation and resettlementpolicy but it is the worst, nothing compared to the ones adopted by Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Orissa," said Tulasidas of the Andhra Pradesh Rythu Sangham, who accompanied Mr. Raghavulu.

The CPI(M) leader, Mr. Tulasidas later visited the project site and met irrigation engineers. But, they remained dissatisfied with their responses.

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